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Vaniqa FAQ

Unwanted facial hair is a common problem that many women face. As women age and hormones have their effects on them, unwanted facial hair can grow on a woman's upper lip and chin. This problem can be compounded by disorders such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, which will make a woman have much more unwanted facial hair.

There are many different ways of removing unwanted facial hair, probably the oldest and most time consuming of these is using a razor or a tweezer. Using a tweezer to remove unwanted facial hair one at a time may rid you of unwanted facial hair for a couple of days but is very time consuming and has to be repeated constantly. Using a razor is fast but does not totally remove the hair and also has to be done repeatedly, sometimes up to every day as some facial hair can grow very quickly.

For many years electrolysis has been available as a more permanent method of hair removal. This applies an electrical current through a small thin needle directly to the hair follicle using heat or lye to alter the chemical structure of the hair follicle and destroying the hair permanently. It has been used to removed unwanted facial hair or to shape eyebrows or to remove leg hair or trim the bikini line, basically from any part of the body. This method is not completely without pain although it has been said that the pain is minimal. The primary drawback to this method of unwanted hair removal is that depending on how much hair has to be removed it can take multiple sessions and a very hairy area can get to be quite expensive to remove.

Laser hair removal uses selective photothermolysis or the application of a specific wavelength of light to apply heat to a hair follicle. This is not a permanent method of hair removal as not every hair will be destroyed, and some people are "non-responders" in whom laser treatments are ineffective to remove unwanted hair. In addition, laser hair removal can cause localized damage by the application of heat to melanin surrounding the hair, causing a permanent change in the skin pigment. It also is not without it's side effects of localized pain, itching, redness, and swelling at the site. This method also takes many sessions to remove all unwanted hair, approximately 3-8 sessions, and can get to be quite expensive also.

Now we have another choice. Vaniqa is the only prescription product approved for unwanted hair removal. It is a cream that is applied twice daily and most women see noticeable results in 4-8 weeks. That is approximately the same amount of time it would take to get enough electrolysis or laser treatments to see results. Vaniqa works by interfering with a chemical in the hair follicles of the skin. Although it is not a permanent method of removal, as long as the cream is used, hair growth will be reduced. To use it, you remove any unwanted hair using your preferred method such as a tweezer or a razor. Apply Vaniqa to a clean face and wait a few minutes to allow the cream to absorb prior to applying makeup or any cosmetic creams. Remember that hair growth slows gradually so it can take 4-8 weeks to see noticeable results and even longer in some women so it must be continued twice daily for the entire 4-8 weeks or more. If no improvement is seen over 6 months then it is time to discontinue it's use. Side effects can be temporary redness, rash, burning, stinging and tingling, especially when applied to broken or irritated skin. If any of those occur, try reducing the application to once daily instead. Vaniqa is a revolutionary new product for women who want to get rid of unwanted hair but who do not want or can't afford expensive lengthy and painful electrolysis or laser treatments. If you have unwanted facial hair you may want to ask your doctor about Vaniqa.

I've personally been using Vaniqa for over 12 months, along with an IPL programme, and I'm *very* happy with the results; I rarely even think about facial hair any more.

Here is a short FAQ I've put together, hopefully it answers some of your questions...

Unofficial Vaniqa FAQ*
Q. How much should I use per "dose"?
A. I find that squeezing a small amount, a little larger than a garden pea is sufficient to cover my entire lower face, especially if the are is slightly damp.

Q. Does Vaniqa hurt?
A. No, but I think a brief and mild tingling of the application area immediately after applying the cream is quite common.

Q. Can I shave and still use Vaniqa?
A. Yes, but allow a few minutes after shaving before applying the cream or it can sting and cause redness as most people's skin is quite sensitive right after shaving.

Q. Does Vaniqa really work?
A. It depends from person to person, I know of far more that it has worked for than not, but you *must* be patient and use it very regularly for at least a couple of months before any benefits will be seen.

Q. Are there any side effects?
A. It does, but most are very mild. In brief, the reported side effects are tingling or mild stinging of the skin where applied, some redness or a rash, and in very few cases acne.

Q. Is the hair loss permanent?
A. Not according to the manufacturer, but there are many testimonials on the internet from people who claim to have no further hair growth after a few years of using Vaniqa.

Q. Can Vaniqa be used with other treatments?
A. Yes, in fact IPL/Laser/Electrolysis appear to be complementary treatments to Vaniqa and the treatments when used in conjunction with each other seem to be very effective.

Q. Can Vaniqa be used alongside other medication?
A. Usually yes, but other face medication might have an effect. As in all cases, you're better off speaking to your doctor before you use Vaniqa.

Q. Can men use Vaniqa?
A. Vaniqa does not appear to have been clinically trialled for use on men, so officially no. I don't think it will cause men to grow any girly bits, but I've not read anything about men using it sorry.